MATERNAL ANCESTRY 

OF 

EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 












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EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


















To 

JESSE GILBERT STUBBS 
Grandson of Ezekiel Gilbert Gear 
this Book is Affectionately Inscribed 
G. I. G. S. 






PREFACE 


JN this little work I shall give a brief sketch of the families from 
which the late Ezekiel Gilbert Gear, D. D., was descended* 
through his mother, Sarah Gilbert; showing the patriotic services of 
certain members of these families to the Commonwealth in which 
their descendants may take a pardonable pride. It has been to me 
a work of great pleasure; not only because I am interested in my 
father’s ancestry, but because the research has led me to many 
pleasant fields of Colonial History. I hope that this little book 
will be of value to the Grandchildren and the Great-grandchildren 
of Ezekiel Gilbert Gear. 

Gertrude Irene Gear Stubbs. 

December, 1914. 108 So. 25th Ave., Omaha, Neb. 


Note—It must be borne in mind that prior to 1752 the year ended Mar. 25, Lady Day. This accounts for 
months of Jan., Feb., and Mar. being written with two year dates; the first being Old Style and the second 
according to the present calendar. 





ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL G. GEAR, D. D 


THE JOHNSON FAMILY 

John Johnson, Roxbury, Mass., came in 
the fleet with Winthrop, bringing wife 
Margaret and five children, the following 
three being the only ones of which we have 
information: 

» 

Isaac, b. 1615, m. Elizabeth Porter. 
(See Porter Family). 

Humphrey, d. July 24, 1693, m. Mar. 20, 
1643, .Ellen or Eleanor Cheney. 

Elizabeth, m. Robert Pepper. 

Margaret, wife of John Johnson, d. April 
9, 1655. He m. 2nd, Grace, widow of Barn¬ 
abas Tawer. Capt. John Johnson of Rox- 
bury, Mass., requested to be admitted free¬ 
man Oct. 19, 1630. He was Deputy to the 
Mass. General Court 1634-38, 1641, 1653, 
165 6-5 9; a Deputy when the Charter was 
granted. He was Captain of the Roxbury 
Artillery, and, later, “Gen. John Johnson, 
a charter member and First Clerk of the 
Ancient & Honorable Artillery Co. 1638. 
Surveyor-General of ‘A1 Ye Armyes’ 1644.’’ 
A member of the embryo Parliament in 
1632, for every town chose two men to be 
at the next Court to advise with the Gov¬ 
ernor and assistants about the raising of 
a public stock, so that they should all be 
bound by the same agreement, and John 
Johnson was one of those chosen from Rox¬ 
bury.- He was the person designated by 
Court as “Goodman’’ Johnson, to whom the 
Roxbury men disarmed in Mrs. Hutchin¬ 
son’s case were to deliver their arms. In 
1645 his house burnt down, and “seven¬ 
teen barrells of the country’s powder, and 
a great number of arms, in all to the value 
of £400 or £500,” were destroyed in the 
conflagration. Johnson had been chosen 
Constable of Roxbury as early as Sept. 19, 
1630, at a time when only the very best 
men were approved for the office. He died 
Sept. 29, 1659. His will is dated the 30th 
of the 7th month, 1659, and was proven on 
the 15th of the 8th month of the same 
year. He left by his will his dwelling 
house and lands to his wife during her 
life, “and after unto my five children, to 
be equally divided; my eldest son having 
a double portion.” 

Register of N. H. Society of C. D.’s of 
America, 1910, p. 102. 


Mass. Society of C. D.’s of America, 
1905, p. 339. 

Society of Colonial Wars, 1899-1902, 

p. 682. 

Whitman’s History of the Ancient and 
Honorable Artillery Co., p. 72. 


Isaac (John) of Roxbury, Mass., was 
born in England in 1615. Became a Free¬ 
man Mar. 4, 1635; Captain of Roxbury, 
16 53; Lieutenant Ancient and Honorable 
Artillery Co., 1665, and its Captain, 1667; 
Deputy, 1671. He was killed at the head 
of his Company Dec. 19, 1675, being one 
of the six captains slain by the Indians at 
the taking of Fort Naragansett. A short 
will *left by him is dated June 2 8, 1675, 
and inventoried £5 79 12. 6. He was m. 
Jan. 20, 1637, to Elizabeth Porter. Their 
children were: 

Elizabeth, b. Dec. 24, 1637, m. Dec. 20, 
1658, Henry Bowen. 

Mary, b. April 28, 1642 (?), m. Dec. 18. 
1663, William Bartholemew. 

Isaac, b. 1642, bapt. Jan. 7, 1644, m. 
Mary Harris (See Harris Family). 

.Joseph, b. Nov. 9, 1645, d. 1645. 

Nathaniel, b. May 1, 1647, m. April 29, 
1667, Mary Smith. 

Elizabeth, Porter, Johnson, d. Aug. 13, 
1683. 

Reg. N. H. Society C. D.’s of America, 
1910, p. 102. 

Mass. Society of C. D.’s of America, 
1905, p. 339. 

Whitman's History of A. and H. Ar. 
Co., p. 151. 

Roberts’ Hist, of A. and H. Ar. Co. 


Isaac (Isaac, John) was born in Roxbury, 
Mass., in 1642, and was m. there Dec. 29, 
166 9, to Mary Harris. They settled in 
Middletown, Conn., in 1670, where he d. 
Feb. 13, 1719. Their children were: 

Isaac, b. Dec. 19, 1670, m. Margaret 

Miller. 

Daniel, 1). Oct. 8, 1672, m. Abigail 

Leek. 

John, b. Aug. 1, 1674, d. Jan. 5, 1692-3. 

Joseph, b. Mar. 9, 1677, m. Elizabeth 
Blake (See Blake Family). 

Nathanile, b. Jan. 17, 1678, m. Mar¬ 
garet Blake. 

Elizabeth, b. Feb. 19, 1680-1, m. John 
Blak6 

William, b. Mar. 14, 1682-3. 

Mary, b. Jan. 18, 1686, m. Jonathan 
Blake. 

Ebenezer, b. Oct. 29, 1692. 






10 


MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


Mary, Harris, Johnson d. in Middletown, 
Conn., previous to June 5, 1714. 

Hist, of Middlesex Co., Town of Mid¬ 
dletown, p. 63. 


Joseph (Isaac, Isaac, John) h. in Mid¬ 
dletown, Conm., Mar. 9, 1677, d. there Nov. 
12, 1739, m. Elizabeth Blake Jan. 2 5, 
169 8. Their children: 


Elizabeth, b. Dec. 12, 1699, m Wil¬ 

liam Harris (See Harris Family). 
Joseph, b. Aug. 26, 1702, d. June 27, 
1780. 

Richard, b. Nov. 12, 1704 
Zepporah, b. J an - 4, 1706-7. 

Anna, b. Jan. 11, 1708, d. Oct. lo, 171-.. 
Anna, b. June 8, 1715. 

Martha, b. April 27, 1718. 


THE PORTER FAMILY 

Edward Porter came to New England 
in 1635-6 with his wife, Elizabeth, and 
sons John, b. 1633, and William, b. 1635 
Other children came afterward. It would 
appear that Edward Porter was m. twice, 

his first wife being named Rhoda- 

Elizabeth Porter, daughter of Edward 

and Rhoda,-, Porter, m. Jan. 20, 1637, 

Capt. Isaac Johnson, of Roxbury, Mass. 
(See Johnson Family). 


THE HARRIS FAMILY 

Thomas and Elizabeth Harris are sup¬ 
posed to have come to this country about 
1630. They settled in Charlestown, Mass. 
The date of Thomas Harris’ death is not 
known. His wife Elizabeth m. 2nd, in 
1633, Deacon William Stilson. She died 
in Charlestown, Feb. 16, 1669-70. Chil¬ 
dren of Thomas and Elizabeth Harris, all 
born in England: 

Thomas, m. Martha Lake. 

William, m. 1st 1641-2, Edith -. She 

died Aug. 5, 1685. He m. 2nd, Lydia, 
widow of Joseph Cook. 

John, m. 1st, Bridget; m. 2nd Alice 
Anthony. 

Daniel, b. 1626. d. Nov. 30, 1701, m. 
Mary Weld (See Weld Family). 

Mary, m. Elias Maverick. 


Daniel (Thomas) born in England, 1626, 
came to America with his parents; settled 
in Rowley, Mass., about 1643; m. in 1648- 
9 Mary Weld of Roxbury, Mass. About 
1653 he moved with his family to Middle- 
town, Conn., where he had land recorded 
June 9, 1659. At a session of the General 
Court held Feb. 23, 165 9, Daniel Harris 
was approved for an Ordinary Keeper in 
Middletown. He was Lieutenant of the 


Train Band in 1661, and elected its Cap¬ 
tain, 1667. Was Deputy to the General 
Court, Middletown, Conn., 1678-84-87-89. 
With the exception of Mary, who was born 
in Rowley, Mass., all the children of Daniel 
and Mary, Weld, Harris were born in Mid¬ 
dletown, Conn. They were: 

Mary, b. Apr. 2, 1651, m. Isaac John¬ 
son, Jr. (See Johnson Family). 

Daniel, b. July 15, 1653, m. Abigail 

Barnes (See Barnes Family). 

Joseph, b. Feb. 12, 1655. 

Thomas, b. May 20, 1657, m. 1st, Ta- 
bitha -; m. 2nd, Zepporah -. 

Elizabeth, b. Mar. 22, 1660, m. John 

Hunnewell; had child, Abiell. 

Sarah, b. Feb. 17, 1661, d. Mar. 15, 1661. 

Sarah, b. Sept. 3, 1663, m. Samuel Bard- 
well. 

William, b. July 17, 1665, m. Martha 
Collins (See Collins Family). 

John, b. Jan. 4, 1668, m. 1st, Susanna 
Collins; m. 2nd, Medwell Lyman. 

Hannah, b. Feb. 11, 1670, m. 1st - 

Cook; m. 2nd - Sprage. 

Daniel Harris, Sr., d. Nov. 30, 1701. 
Mary, Weld, Harris d. Sept. 5, 1711. 

Hist, of Middlesex Co., Town of Mid¬ 
dletown, p. 63. 

Mass. Society of C. D.’s of America, 
1905, p. 328. 

Savage Genealogical Dictionary, Vol. 
2, p. 360. 


Daniel (Daniel, Thomas) was born July 
16, 1653; m. Dec. 14, 1680, Abigail Barnes. 
Their children were: 

Abigail, b. Feb. 7, 1682-3, m. Capt. 

Joseph Cornwell. 

Mary, b. May 11, 1685, m. William 

Ward. 

FJlizabeth, d. young. 

Daniel, b. Oct. 2, 1688, m. Abigail Mer- 
iam or Merriman. 

Joseph, b. Mar. 1, 1691, m. Mary-. 

Patience, b. May 15, 1693, m. Ezekiel 
Gilbert (See Gilbert Family). 

Abigail, Barnes, Harris d. May 22, 1723. 
Daniel Harris m. 2nd, Elizabeth, Bedell, 
Cook, widow of Samuel Cook of Walling¬ 
ford. They resided in Middletown, Conn., 
where he d. Oct. 18, 1735. 


William (Daniel, Thomas) b. July 17, 
1665, in Middletown, Conn., d. there Feb. 
19, 1751; m. Jan. 8, 1690, Martha Collins, 
who d. Aug. 1, 1750. Their children: 

Mary, b. Feb. 9, 1691-2. 

Sibbil, b. Apr. 30, 1695, m. Jonathan 
Yemans. 

William, b. May 20, 1697, d. June 17, 
1740, m. Elizabeth Johnson (See 
Johnson Family). 

Prudence, b. Jan. 1700-1. 

“July 17, 1718, William Harris and wife 
Martha of Middletown conveyed to their 
son Jonathan Yemans and to their daugh¬ 
ter Sibbil land which descended to said 
William and Martha part of her portion of 


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11 


MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


the estate of her father Ensign Samuel 
Collins deseased of Middletown.” Wil¬ 
liam Harris was Ensign of the Train Band 
of Middletown in 1712; confirmed Captain 
of the same later; and was Deputy in the 
year 1720. 

Colonial Records of Conn., Vol. 5, p. 
311; Vol. 6, pp. 25, 173, 233; Vol. 7, 
p. 193. 

Middletown Land Records, Vol. 4, p. 28. 
v N. E. Hist, and Gen. Register, 1907, pp. 
280 - 1 . 


William (William, Daniel, Thomas) b. 
May 20, 1697, in Middletown, Conn., d. 
there June 15, 1740; m. Elizabeth John¬ 
son in Middletown Feb. 2, 1720. 

Children: 

Prudence, b. Sept. 18, 1721, m. Jona¬ 
than Gilbert (See Gilbert Family). 
Elizabeth, b. Aug. 26, 1723. 

Joseph, b. June 28, 1727. 

Martha, b. Jan. 5, 1731-2. 

Sibbel, b. June 20, 1734. 

Zeporah, b. Oct. 18, 1740. 

Elizabeth, Johnson, Harris m. 2nd- 

Doolittle; she d. Mar. 12, 1777. 


THE HALL FAMILY 

John Hall, b. Kent Co., Eng., in 1584, d. 
May 2 6, 1673, in Middletown, Conn. We 
know that he came to America in 1633, as 
his will, dated May 14, 1673, states that 
was his fortieth year of living in New Eng¬ 
land. He was married to Esther-, who 

probably died in England before the fam¬ 
ily left there. John Hall settled first in 
Boston, but soon removed to Roxbury, 
where we find the prefix “Mr.” accorded 
him on the records of Elliott’s Church. In 
those 'days but few persons were addressed 
by this prefix, and it usually indicated 
that such persons were entitled to a coat 
of arms. John Hall’s name is found on a 
rate list on the Roxbury records, 1634, in 
which his family is recorded as consisting 
of four persons. On Sept. 4, 1633, he, 
with John Oldham and two other men, left 
for the Conn. River. They returned to the 
Bay town Jan. 20, 1634, and it was their 
favorable report of the rich bottom land 
on the river which led to the migration 
from Dorchester to Wethersfield and Wind¬ 
sor, and from Cambridge to Hartford, in 
1635-6. Mr. Hall was made Freeman in 
Boston, 1635. He probably joined the 
Hooker and Stone colony and went to Hart¬ 
ford soon after, . but did not remove his 
family until 1639. In that year he bought 
land of Wm. Hooker and Wm. Bloomfield, 
and drew the house lot No. 77 of 6 acres 
on the brow of Lord’s Hill. He was Sur¬ 
veyor of Highways in Hartford, 16 40. In 
1650 he settled in Middletown and Mar. 


15, 1659, the General Court held at Hart¬ 
ford appointed him to enter and record 
such goods as were subject to custom for 
Middletown. The children of John and 
Esther, -, Hall were all born in Eng¬ 

land. They were: 

John, b. 1619, d. Jan. 22, 1694-5. 

Richard, b. 1620. 

Sarah, b. 1622, m. Thomas Wetmore 
(See Wetmore Family). 

Samuel, b. 1626. 

Hist, of Middlesex Co., Conn., Town of 
Middletown, p. 63. 


Richard (John) b. in England in 1620, 
d. Mar. 27, 1691, Middletown, Conn. He 
m. Mary-, who came with him to Mid¬ 

dletown from Hartford in 1650, and who 
d. Mar. 30, 16 91. Richard Hall had lands 
recorded June 9, 1654; his home lot con¬ 
tained 5 acres and was situated on the 
north side of Main street, a strip of land 
extending between Court and College to 
High street. Children of Richard and Mary, 
--, Hall; 

Mary, b. 1646, m. Anthony Martin Mar. 
10, 1665. 

John, b. Sept. 20, 1648. 

Jane, b. Mar., 1653. 

Sarah, b. May, 1654, m. John Blake 
(See Blake Family). 

Richard, b. June 16, 1656, killed by the 
Indians in King Phillip's War, Had¬ 
ley, Mass., May 30, 1676. 

Samuel, b. Sept., 1658. 

Ann (or Amy), b. Mar. 20, 1661. 

Hall data from “Hall Genealogy,” by 
Rev. David B. Hall. 


THE WELD FAMILY 

The Weld family dates back to 1352. 
The New England family came from Suf¬ 
folk, England, in 1632. Joseph Weld and 
wife Elizabeth settled in Roxbury, Mass., 
in 1632, the Colony making him a grant of 
land now West Roxbury. This was the 
family home for 200 years. Savage says: 
“He was the richest man in the Colony at 
the time of his death and one of the first 
donors to Harvard College.” “Capt. Joseph 
Weld, Roxbury,” this name in the oldest 
roll of the Ancient and Honorable Artil¬ 
lery Company, appears Capt. - Weld, 

but in the list of annual officers elected is 
Capt. Joseph Weld. He is the first person 
elected as Ensign of the Company, 1638. 
He was Freeman in 1636, and Deputy from 
Roxbury to Mass. General Court in that 
year and five years after, so he must have 
been a Representative when the Charter 
was granted. He lived in Roxbury, was by 
profession a merchant and was the first 
Captain of the Roxbury Band, dying Oct. 
7, 1646, while holding that position. He 
is supposed to have been the son of Ed- 













12 


MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


% 

mund Weld and Amye, his wife. Edmund 
Weld died 1608, Sudbury, England. The 
parentage of Elizabeth, the wife of Capt. 
Joseph Weld, is not known, although one 
authority claims her maiden name to have 
been Shatswell. She died Oct., 1638. He 
m. 2nd on April 30, 1639, Barbara, daugh¬ 
ter of Nicholas Clap, of Vennottery, Eng¬ 
land. Their children were: 

Daniel. 

Sarah, m. John Franck. 

Marah, m. Comfort Starr. 

The widow married Anthony Stoddard. 
The children of Joseph and Elizabeth 
Weld: 

John. 

Thomas. 

Edmund. 

Mary, b. 1627, in Co. Essex, Eng., 38 
miles from London, m. Daniel Harris 
(See Harris Family). 

Hannah. 

Whitman's History of the Ancient and 
Honorable Artillery Company, p. 37. 
Society of Colonial Wars, 1899-1902, 
p. . 803. 

Register of Mass. Society of Colonial 
Dames, 1905, p. 395. 

Register of the New Hampshire So¬ 
ciety of Colonial Dames of America, 
1910, p. 140. 


THE STOW FAMILY 

John Stow, the emigrant ancestor of this 
family, was b. in 15 95 in the Parish of 
Hauckhurst, Kent Co., Eng. He m. Eliza¬ 
beth, daughter of Thomas and Rachel, Mar¬ 
tin, Bigg. Their six children were born in 
England, and came to America with their 
parents, sailing Apr. 9, 1634, and landing 
in Boston May 17. They settled in Rox- 
bury, which joined Boston on the west. 
Their children were: 

Thomas, b. 1617, d. 1684, m. Mary 
Gragg. 

Elizabeth, b. 1619, m. 1st Henry Arch¬ 
er; m. 2nd Christopher Smith. 

John, b. 1621. 

Nathaniel, b. 1623, d. 1704. 

Samuel, b. 1624, d. 1704, m. Hope 
Fletcher. 

Thankful, m. John Pierpont (ancestor 
of Pierpont Morgan). 

John Stow went back to England for 
the purpose of closing up his affairs there, 
returning again accompanied by his moth¬ 
er-in-law, in the ship “Elizabeth” from 
London, Capt. Stagg, Master, Apr. 12, 
1635. The certificate of the Minister of 
Hauckhurst gives his age at that time as 
40 years. He was a man of good standing, 
a farmer, “of fair estate,” holding in 1638 
250 acres of land, 20 goats and 2 0 kids; 
and in 1642 was granted 100 acres of land 
for transcribing the laws of the Colony. 
His house was on Meeting House Hill, near 
the N. W. corner of Cedar and Highland 


streets, on an estate of HV 2 acres. He was 
Freeman in 1634; member of the Ancient 
and Honorable Artillery Company in 1638; 
and Representative to the Gen. Court, 
1638-39. Was buried Oct. 26, 1643. Eliz¬ 
abeth, Bigg, Stow was buried Aug. 2 4, 
1638. In the handwriting of the Apostle 
John Elliott on the -Church Records ap¬ 
pears the following regarding her: 

“She was a very godly Matron, a bless¬ 
ing not only to her family but to all the 
church where she had lead a Christian 
conversation a few years among us. She 
died and left a good sorrow behind her.” 
Rachel, Martin, Bigg settled in Roxbury, 
Mass., and d. there in 1646, leaving sub¬ 
stantial legacies to each of the children of 
her daughter, Elizabeth Stow. 

Whitmans Hist.’ Hon. Artillery Co., 
p. 77. 

Society Colonial Wars, 1899-1902, p. 
774. 

“Stow Genealogy,” by A. S. Wiester. 


Samuel (John) b. in England, 1624, was 
a member of the third class from the 
commencement of Harvard College. He 
graduated in 1645, and was Freeman in 
the same year while undergraduate, but 
had his degree four weeks later. He taught 
the public school at Roxbury, Mass., then 
studied for the ministry with the Rev. John 
Maverick; preached first at Chelmsford, 
Mass., where he married Hope, daughter of 
Wm. Fletcher. He afterwards ministered 
over the first church of Charleston, Mass.; 
then to Concord, Mass., and in 1652 he 
joined planters at Middletown, where he 
preached some ten years, but was not set¬ 
tled. He had much difficulty about “tenets 
and pay,” and was dismissed --Trum¬ 

bull, the historian, says: “on account of 
the evil temper of the people towards him.” 
Afterwards he preached at Windsor, Farm¬ 
ington, and Wethersfield; also formed the 
first church at Simsbury and was settled 
some years. He owned large estates of 
land in Maromus and Middletown, and 36 
acres house lot corner Main and Washing¬ 
ton streets. The list of householders and 
proprietors of Middletown, Conn., taken 
Mar. 22, 1670-1, shows Rev. Samuel Stow, 
£19400. In 1660 he and his brother 
Thomas sold to two men 600 acres in Con¬ 
cord near Sudbury line. These two broth¬ 
ers, Samuel and Thomas, were the pro¬ 
genitors of all who bear the name of Stow 
in Conn. Rev. Samuel Stow d. May 8, 
1704, leaving by will for the benefit of ed¬ 
ucation a tract of land which still bears 
his name. Children of Samuel and Hope, 
Fletcher, Stow (all except John probably 
born in Middletown) : 

John, b. Jan. 6, 1650, Charlestown, 





MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


13 


Mass., d. Oct. 18, 1688, m. Mary Wet- 
more. 

lehabod, b. Feb. 20, 1653. 

Hope, b. Feb. 4, 1657. 

Dorothy, b. Aug - . 4, 1659, m. Jonathan 
Gilbert (See Gilbert Family). 

Elizabeth, b. Aug. 1, 1662, m. May- 

bee Barnes. 

Thankful, b. May 5, 1664. 

Rachel, b. Mar. 13, 1667, m. Izrahiah 
Wetmore (See Wetmore Family). 

Margaret, m. Beriah Wetmore. 

Mass. So. C. D., 1905, pp. 35, 382. 

Savage, Vol. 4, pp. 217-218. 

Hist. Middlesex Co., Conn., Town of 
Middletown, p. 63. 

“Stow Genealogy,” by A. S. Wiester. 


THE WHITE FAMILY 

Robert White of Messing, Essex Co., 
England, yeoman, buried June 17, 1617, 
resided at Shelf ord from June 2 4, 1585, 
the date of his marriage. His wife was 
baptized Mar. 11, 156 2, Brydgette Allger, 
daughter of William Allger, the elder. The 
baptism of nearly all the children of Rob¬ 
ert White is recorded at Shelford, as is 
also the marriage of his two daughters. 
His children, were, together with his wife, 
mentioned in his will. They were: 

Marv (or Marie), m. Joseph Lummus. 

Elizabeth, m. William Goodwin. 

Sarah, m. James Boutell. 

Bridgett. 

Ann. 

Nathaniel. 

.John, m. Mary Levit, Dec. 26, 1622. 

Daniel. 


John (Robert) m. Dec. 26, 1622, Mary 
Levit, probably daughter of that William 
Levit, whose Will he witnessed in 162 6. 
She was still living in Mar., 1660. He came 
to America with Elder Goodwin in the ship 
“Lion,” which sailed about June 22, 1632. 
They arrived at Boston, Sept. 16, and he 
settled in Cambridge, Mass., his home lot 
being on the street now occupied by Gore 
Hall, Harvard University, but then called 
“Cow Yard Row.” He was admitted Free¬ 
man Mar. 4, 1633, Townsman in 1635. 
Afterwards sold his homestead and other 
lands, describing himself May 30, 1636, of 
the new town upon the Conn. River. Came 
to Hartford in 1636 with the Hooker Com¬ 
pany, his home lot there being on the east 
side of what is now Governor street, about 
ten rods from Park River, next to Gov. 
Hopkins and to Gov. Wyllys. In 1642 he 
was a Townsman; also in 1646, 1651, and 
1656. In 1653 he was granted various 
tracts in Middletown, as he had evinced 
an intention to remove thither. The Rev. 
Thomas Hooker dying in 1657, the diverg¬ 
ence of views on church matters reached 
such a pass that John White, Elder Good¬ 
win, and others in 165 9 founded the town 


of Hadley, Mass., where he held many of¬ 
fices. Returning to Hartford in 1670, he 
united with the South Church, of which he 
became an Elder. This position exempted 
him from holding town offices or perform¬ 
ing civil service; but as arbitrator, referee, 
and counsellor in church matters he per¬ 
formed good work. He died between 
Dec. 17, 1683, the date of his will, and 
Jan. 23, 168 4, the date of the inventory. 
Children of John and Mary, Levit, White: 

J ohn. 

Mary, b. July 16, 1626, m. Jonathan 

Gilbert (See Gilbert Family). 

Nathaniel, b. 1629, d. 1711, m. 1st 
Elizabeth -■, m. 2nd Widow Mar¬ 

tha Mould, daughter of John Colt of 
New Haven. 

Sarah. 

Daniel, b. 1639, d. 1713. 

Jacob, b. at Hartford, Conn., Oct. 8, 
1645. 

“Middletown Upper Houses,’ ’by Chas. 
C. Adams. 


THE COLLINS FAMILY 

John Collins of London, Salter, buried at 
Brampton, Suffolk Co., Eng., m. Abigail, 
daughter of Thomas Rose of Exmouth, Dev¬ 
on Co., buried at Braintree, Essex Co., 
Eng. Their children were: 

Edward, b. about 1603, m. Martha -. 

Daniel of London, a merchant, 1632, m. 
Syble, daughter of Thomas Frank- 
lyn of London, a goldsmith. 

John immigrated to Boston, Mass., 
1634, m. Susanna. 

Samuel, vicar of Braintree, Essex Co. 

Abigail, m. Rev. William Thompson 
of Braintree, Mass. 


Edward (John) appears first in Cam¬ 
bridge, Mass., 1638, where he was Deacon 
of the First Church; was Freeman, May 13, 
1641; Deputy from Cambridge to the Gen. 
Court from 1654 to 1670, with the excep¬ 
tion of the year 1661. He had brought to 
New Eng. with him his wife Martha and 
several children. For many years he lived 
on the plantation of Gov. Craddock at 
Medford; then purchased it, and sold off a 
considerable portion. “Martha, ——, Col¬ 
lins relates that her father was careful in 
catechising her and at 19 began to seek 
the Lord for herself.” Her husband died 
in Charlestown, Mass., Apr. 9, 1689. Their 
children were: 

Daniel, b. 1629. 

John, b. 1633, d. Dec. 3, 1687. 

Samuel, b. 1635-6, d. Jan. 10, 1696, m. 
Mary Marvin (See Marvin Family). 

Syble, b. 1638, m. 1st Rev. John Whit- 
' ing; m. 2nd Rev. John Russell. 

Martha, b. Sept., 1639, m. Rev. Jos¬ 
hua Moody. 

Nathaniel, b. Mar., 1642. d. Dec. 28, 
1684, m. Mary -Whiting, 









14 


MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


Abigail. 1). Septt 20, 1644, m. 1663, John, 
son of Capt. Thomas Willit. 
Edward, bapt. June, 1646, in Cam¬ 
bridge . 

Mass. Register C. D„ 1905, pp. 135, 300. 
Society of Colonial Wars (Missouri) 
1900', p. 32. 

Pope’s Pioneers of Mass., p. 112. 


Samuel (Deacon Edward, John) b. 1635- 
6, d. Jan. 10, 1696, in Middletown, Conn., 
m. about 1663 Mary Marvin, who d. Mar. 
6, 1713-14 (see Marvin Family). He 

settled in Middletown in 1665, and had 
land recorded there Feb. 28, 1667, and 
Mar. 22, 1670. He was Representative in 
16 72, and bore the title “Ensign Samuel 
Collins.” The children of Samuel and 
Mary, Marvin, Collins: 

Edward, b. at Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 
18, 1664. 

Martha, b. at Middletown, Conn., Mar. 
3, 1666, m. William Harris (See Har¬ 
ris Family). 

Samuel, b. Oct. 21, 1668. 

Syble, b. Feb. 25, 1671, m. 1st Isaac 
Rice; m. 2nd George Reed. 

Mary, b. Jan. 16, 1672, m. Richard 

Moore. 

Abigail, b. June 2, 1673, m. William 
Ward. 

David, b. Oct. 5, 1675, d. June 6, 1689. 

Boston Transcript, Feb. 12, 1901. 

N. E. Hist, and Gen. Reg., July, 1907, 
pp. 281-282; and 1861, p. 163. 

Hist, of Middlesex Co., Conn., Town of 
Middletown, p. 63. 


THE MARVIN FAMILY 

The first family by the name of Marvin 
to come to New England consisted of two 
brothers, Mathew, who arrived in 1635, 
and Reinold, and a sister Hannah. The 
two brothers were among the original set¬ 
tlers of Hartford, Conn., and both propri¬ 
etors of land in that ancient town. Reinold 
Marvin was born in Great Bently, Eng¬ 
land, 15 93, and married his wife Mary- 

about 1617. Reinold sold his land in Hart¬ 
ford and removed to Farmington, of which 
town he was probably among the first set¬ 
tlers. About 164 8 he sold his property in 
Farmington to John Warner. He then re¬ 
moved to that part of Saybrook which is 
now called Lynn, where he died in 1662. 
In his will, dated May 2 3, 1662, he gave 
his daughter “Mare household goods, my 
wife’s wearing clothes and linens, cattle, 
etc.” His wife Mary died in Lynn, Gonn., 
in 1661. Her death is said to have been 
caused by witchcraft. Reinold and Mary, 
-, Marvin had two children: 

Reinold, b. 1634, m. in 1663 Sarah 
Clark. 

Mary, bapt. Oct. 23, 1636, in St. Mary’s 
Church, Great Bentley, Essex, Eng¬ 
land; m. about 1663, Samuel Col¬ 


lins (See Collins Family). 

Hartford County Court Records- Vol. 

Ill, reverse end p. 1. 

Marvin Genealogy. 


THE BARNES FAMILY 

Thomas Barnes came to New Haven 
when still a boy, and no mention is found 
of his name until about 1644, when he be¬ 
came of age and shared in the land dis¬ 
tribution. He married about 1647 Eliza¬ 
beth -, whose family name has not 

been found. They resided in New Haven 
until 1660 or 1665, when they moved to 
North Haven, and in 1671 to that part of 
Middletown now Middlefield, where he 
died in 1693. Children of Thomas and 
Elizabeth,-, Barnes were: 


John, b. 1648, m. Mary Batts. 

Elizabeth, b. Aug. 28, 1650, m 1st 

Benjamin Brackett; 2nd John Aus¬ 
tin. 

Thomas, b. Aug. 26. 1653, m. 1st Mary 
Hubbard; 2nd Abigail Frost. 

Mercy, b. 1655, m. Bartholomew la- 
cobs. 

Abigail, b. Mar. 16, 1657, m Daniel 

Harris (See Harris Family). 

Daniel, b. Aug. 27, 1659, m. Mary Tay¬ 
lor. 

Martha, b. 1661. 

Maybee, b. Jan. 25, 1663, m. Elizabeth 
Stow. 


Hist, of Middlesex Co.. Conn., Town of 
Middletown, p. 63. 


THE BLAKE FAMILY 

John Blake, b. probably in Malden, Eng., 
about 1652, settled in Middletown, Conn., 
in 1677, where he d. Nov. 11, 1690. He 
m. in 16 73 Sarah Hall (see Hall Family), 
who m. 2nd Edward Turner. She d. Dec. 
16, 1726. In 1683 John Blake gave a deed 
in which he called George Durant his fath¬ 
er. Probably this George Durant was the 
second husband of John Blake’s mother, 

Elizabeth,-, Blake. Children of John 

and Sarah, Hall, Blake were as follows: 

Mercy, b. Nov. 16, 1673, m. Samuel 

Roberts. 

Sarah, b. Feb. 15, 1675, m. John Rob¬ 
erts. 

Margaret, b. July 16, 1677, m. Nathan¬ 
iel Johnson. 

Elizabeth, b. Mar. 16, 1679, m. Joseph 
Johnson (See Johnson Family) 

Abigail, b. July 25, 1681. 

John, b. May 19, 1683, m. Elizabeth 

Johnson. 

Jonathan, b. July 27, 1685, m. Mary 
Johnson. 

Stephen, b. July 15, 1687, m. 1st Han¬ 
nah Cole; 2nd Abigail Hubbard. 

“Hall Genealogy,” by Rev. David Hall. 

Hist, of Middlesex Co., Conn., Town of 
Middletown, p. 63. 












MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


15 


THE GILBERT FAMILY 

The name of “Gilbert” is Saxon. It is 
found on the Roll of Battle Abbey T. Gib- 
bard. In 1060 Gilbert de Gaunt came with 
William the Conqueror. This name is em¬ 
inent in the annals of Church, State, and 
learning of England through several cen¬ 
turies. Its early and principal home is in 
Devonshire. They possessed lands in Man- 
aton, in or near Dartmoor, in Edward the 
Confessor’s day, 1272-1307. Pence, in his 
“Worthies of Devon,” says that the Gil¬ 
berts have matched as they descended into 
honorable houses, as of Champernon, 
Croker, Hill, Ghadleighy, Agar, Molineaux, 
Pomeay, and Grenviles. They have mar¬ 
ried also daughters and heirs of Compton, 
Champernon and Valletort, whereby they 
touched the royal blood. 

N. E. Hist, and Gen. Reg - ., Vol. 4, pp. 
225-232. ' 

Five men by the name of Gilbert came 
early into the Connecticut Colony: Jona¬ 
than, John, Josiah, Obadiah, and Thomas. 
It can be proven by documents that the 
first four were brothers, and probably 
Thomas was the fifth. Jonathan Gilbert 
settled in Hartford, where he died Dec. 
10, 16 82, aged 64. He became a promi¬ 
nent man, a large landholder, Captain, Col¬ 
lector of Customs, and Marshal of the Col¬ 
ony; Cornet in Capt. John Mason’s Troupe 
of Horse in the Pequot War; member of 
the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com¬ 
pany, 1653; and Deputy to the General 
Court of Hartford, 1677-81. He married, 
Jan. 29, 1645-46, Mary White (see White 
Family), who was born in England, and 
died in Hartford July 22, 1649-50. Jona¬ 
than and Mary, White, Gilbert had two 
children: 

Jonathan, b. Dec. 11, 1648, m. Dorothy 
Stow (See Stow Family). 

Mary, b. 1649, d. 1649. 

Jonathan, Sr., m. 2nd, Mary, daughter 
of Hugh and Frances Wells, and they had 
the following children: 

Thomas. 

Sarah. 

Dydia. 

Nathaniel. 

Mary. 

Hester. 

Rachel. 

Samuel. 

Ebenezer. 

Mass. Register of Colonial Dames of 
America, 1905, p. 322. 

Trumbull’s History of Connecticut, 
Vol. 1, p. 222. 

N. E. Hist, and Gen. Reg., 1850, pp. 
229-232; same for 1868, p. 348. 


Jonathan Gilbert (Jonathan) b. Dec. 11, 


1648, in Hartford, d. Mar. 7, 16 97-8, in 
Middletown, Conn., where he had settled 
in 1672. He was rather a wild young man 
and his father in his will gave him less 
than the portion of the first born. Being 
dissatisfied thereby, Jonathan, Jr., ap¬ 
pealed to the General Court of Conn., say¬ 
ing in his petition that he was the first 
born by his father's first wife, and had 
been fully reconciled to his father after 
his return from the West Indies and his 
marriage to the daughter of Mr. Stow. 
His petition was granted, his step-mother 
consenting, 1684. Jonathan, Jr., m. June 
22, 1679, Dorothy Stow. She was b. Aug. 
1, 1659, d. July 4, 1698 (see Stow Fam¬ 
ily). Their children were: 

Mary, b. May 18, 1680. 

A son, d. Mar. 31, 1681. 

Mehitable, b. Feb. 8, 1682 

John, b. June 30, 1683. 

Jonathan, b. Sept. 8, 1684, d. Sept. 27, 
1684. 

A son, b. Apr. 11, 1686. 

Jonathan, b. Apr. 8, 1687. 

Nathaniel, b. Dec. 21, 1689. 

Ezekiel, b. May 16, 1693, m. Patience 
Harris (See Harris Family). 

Sarah, b. June 8, 1695. 

Mehitable, b. 1696. 

Ebenezer (posthumous) b. 1698, be¬ 
tween Mar. 7 and July 4. 


Ezekiel Gilbert (Jonathan, Jonathan), 
b. May 16, 1693, d. Aug. 25, 1752; m. in 
Middletown, Dec. 2, 1714, Patience Har¬ 
ris (see Harris Family), who died Aug. 15, 
1777. Their children were: 

Jonathan, b. Feb. 24, 1715-16, m. Pru¬ 
dence Harris (See Harris Family). 

Patience, b. June 12, 1718, d. Feb. 16, 
1742. 

Ezekiel, b. Nov. 28, 1720. 

Elizabeth, b. June 15, 1723-4. 

Eament, b. Aug. 20, 1727. 

Joseph, b. May 9, 1731. 

Abigail, b. Jan. 1, 1733-4. 

David, b. April 9, 1736. 


Jonathan Gilbert (Ezekiel, Jonathan, 
Jonathan), b. in Middletown, Feb. 24, 
1715-16, m. Oct. 25, 1739, Prudence Har¬ 
ris (see Harris Family), who d. Aug. 30, 
1797. Their children were: 

A child, b. 1740, soon d. 

Martha, b. Nov. 18, 1773. 

Daniel, b. Jan. 15, 1745. 

Jonathan, b. Feb. 21, 1747, m. Dec. 6, 
1770, Lucy Ward. 

Prudence, b. Aug. 6, 1750, m. May 4, 
1769, Daniel Stow, and settled in 
Conway, Mass. 

Elizabeth, b. Jan. 29, 1753, m. Oct. 29, 
1772, Timothy Powers; had daugh¬ 
ter Elizabeth, who m. Daniel Whit- 
ing. 

Ezekiel, b. Mar. 25, 1756; grad, of 

Yale, 1778. Settled in Hudson, N. 
Y., before 1793; M. C. from N. Y. 
from 1793-1797; also a judge. 

- William, b. June 24, 1758, m. Apr, 6, 
1789, Hope Burr, 





16 


MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


Patience, b. Nov. 9, 1760. 

Sarah, b. Nov. 1, 1763, m. Feb. 9, 1790, 
Hezekiah Gear (See Gear Family). 

Jonathan Gilbert d. Jan. 3, 1812. 


THE GEAR FAMILY 

George Geer, son of Jonathan, was b. 
in England, d. in 1726, m. Feb. 17, 165 8, 
Sarah Allyn. She was the daughter of Rob¬ 
ert, b. 1608, d. 1683, and Sarah,-, Al¬ 

lyn. George Geer and wife Sarah had a 
son Jonathan, who was b. May 26, 1662, 

and d. Apr. 30, 1742. He m. Mary-, 

who d. Apr. 24, 1718. Their son Jonathan 
was born, married and died, in Preston, 
Conn. He m. June 1, 1721, Elizabeth Her¬ 
rick, who d. Feb. 10, 1743-4 (see Herricli 
Family). They had a son: 

Samuel, b. June 3, 1731, m. 1st Esther 
Clough; m. 2nd Abigail, Wetmore, 
Burt (See Wetmore Family). 


Samuel Gear, son of Jonathan and Eliz¬ 
abeth, Herrick, Gear, was b. June 3, 1731, 
in Preston, Conn. On July 25, 1753, he 
was m. in Middletown to widow Esther 
Clough. They had four children: 

Samuel. 

Esther. 

Epaperas. 

George, bapt. Mar. 9, 1760. 

The date of Esther, Clough, Gear’s death 
is not known. Samuel Gear m. 2nd in 
1760 or 1761, Abigail, Wetmore, Burt. 
They had one son: 

Hezekiah, b. 1761, m. Sarah Gilbert 
(See Gilbert Family). 

Samuel Gear was buried from the First 
Congregational Church at Middletown in 
Apr., 1765. Administration was granted on 
his estate, Aug. 1, 1765. The estate proved 
insolvent, and his widow, Abigail, had nec¬ 
essaries set out to her. 

Middletown Town Records. 


Hezekiah, son of Samuel and Abigail, 
Wetmore, Burt, Gear, b. in Middletown 
Apr. 26, 1761, d. Aug. 4, 1822, Pittsfield, 
Mass., m. Sarah Gilbert Feb. 9, 1790. Their 
children born in Middletown: 

Charles, b. Sept. 30, 1790, m. Hannah 
Hutton. 

Hezekiah, b. Dec. 17, 1791, d. June 8, 
1877, m. 1st Charlotte Clark, b. June 
19, 1800, d. Sept. 13, 1833. She was 
mother of Charlotte, Gear, Girdon, 
and Clarissa, Gear, Hobbs. 


Ezekiel Gilbert, b. Sept. 13, 1793, m. 
1st Miranda Cook; m. 2nd Mary 
Yardley How. 

Sarah, b. Mar. 9, 1795, d. unmarried. 

Emily, b. Dec. 28, 1796, m.-Smith. 

Sophia, b. Apr. 9, 1799, d. May 9, 1799. 

About 1800 Hezekiah Gear moved with 
his family to Pittsfield Mass., where the 
following children were born: 

Sophia, b. May 10, 1800, m.-Far- 

riss. 

William Titus, b. May 16, 1802, m. Dor¬ 
othy - 

Angelica, b. July 31, 1804, m. Judge 
Charles Mason; left dau. Mary, wife 
of Adm. George Remy, Wash., D. C. 

Samuel, b. Jan. 10, 1807, d. unmarried. 

Sarah, Gilbert, Gear d. in Galena, Ill., 
Nov. 6, 1837. 

Records First Cong. Church, Middle- 
town, Conn. 

Records from family Bible of Heze¬ 
kiah and Sarah Gear—now property 
of Mary, Mason, Remy. 


Ezekiel Gilbert Gear, Chaplain U. S. A., 
b. in Middletown, Conn., Sept. 13, 1793, 
baptized there Oct. 6, 1793, in the Church 
of Holy Trinity, formerly Christ Church. 
His sponsors were his father, Ichabod Wet¬ 
more, and Mrs. George Bartlett. In the 
same church Ezekiel Gilbert Gear was con¬ 
firmed and ordained Deacon by Bishop 
Griswold. He m. 1st in Chesterfield, N. H., 
Mar. 22, 1819, Miranda Cook. Their chil¬ 
dren were; 

Mary Elizabeth, b. Jan. 5, 1820, d. 

1875, m. 1st Lieut. Samuel White- 
horn (one child, Samuel, d. young); 
m. 2nd Lieut. Thomas Caster* 

Margaret Ann, b. Apr. 10, 1822, d. 

Mar. 24, 1852, m. Lieut. Stephen Car¬ 
penter (ha.d dau. Alice, who m. 
James Postlewait). 

John Henry, b. Apr. 7, 1825, d. July 14, 
1900, m. Harriett Foot, 1852. He was 
M. C. and Gov. of Iowa, and at time 
of his death U. S. Sen. from that 
State. 


Miranda, Cook, Gear d. Jan. 18, 1826. 

In St. Peter’s Church, Auburn, N. Y., 
May 16, 1829, Ezekiel Gilbert Gear m. 2nd, 
Mary Yardley How. Their children were: 

Thomas Rudd. 

Edmund Theodore. 

Sarah Eliza. 

Angelica Rose, d. Sept. 11, 1870, m. 

Lieut. A. E. Latimer, U. S. A. 
Emilie Louise, d. Apr. 24, 1909, unmar¬ 
ried. 

Reginald Heber. 

Gertrude Irene, m. John J. Stubbs. 
Grace Bertha, d. June 10, 1909, unmar¬ 
ried. 

Ezekiel Gilbert Gear d. in Minneapolis, 
Minn., Oct. 13, 1873. Mary Yardley How 
Gear d. in same place, Oct. 18, 1892, 











MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


17 


"List of Officers of U. S. A., 1776- 
1900,” by Col. Wm. H. Rowell, U. 
'S. A., p. 326. 

How Genealogy. 

Gertrude Irene Gear b. at Fort Snelling, 
Minn., m. in Minneapolis, Minn., Oct. 12, 
1881, John J. Stubbs (b. in West Elkton, 
Ohio). They have one son: 

Jesse Gilbert Stubbs, b. in Oakland 
Neb., Sept. 28, 1882. 


THE WETMORE FAMILY 

John Whitmore came to this country in 
1630, and was killed by Indians in 1648. 
He was m. in England to his first wife, 
whose name is not known. The following 
children were born to them in England: 

Thomas, b. 1615. 

Ann, b. 1621. 

Mary, b. 1623. 

Francis, b. 1625. 

John, b. 1627. 

“Whitmore Genealogy,” by Jessie 
Whitmore and Patten Purdy, p. 7. 
Burk’s “Landed Gentry.” 


Thomas Wetmore was born in Eng., 
1615, and came to Mass, in 1635. Re¬ 
moved to Hartford, Conn., and in 1650 to 
Middletown, where his house lot of 5 acres 
adjoined that of John Hall’s son on the 
south. He became a Deacon of the church; 
was made Freeman at a session of the 
Gen. Court in May, 1652; Constable for 
Mattabeseck at a session of the Particular 
Court held in March, 1652-3, and again in 
March, 1663; chosen Townsman in Nov. 
1654, and in 1657, Feb., 1668-71-73, and 
Dec., 1679; a Commissioner to enlist men 
of the Colony against the Indians, 1653-54; 
Grand Levy Man, Apr., 1654, and Mar., 
1654-5; Rate Maker in March, 1660, Apr., 
1663, Dec., 1666, and Nov., 1674; Pounder 
in March, 16 62, and Feb. 1666; Deputy 
from Middletown to the Gen. Court, Sept, 
and Oct., 1654, and Mar., 1654-5. He m. 
1st, Dec. 11, 1645, Sarah, daughter of 
John Hall of Middletown (see Hall Fam¬ 
ily). She d. Dec. 7, 1664. He m. 2nd, 
Jan. 3, 1666, widow Mary Atkinson, who 
d. June 17, 1669 . He m. 3rd, Oct. 8, 1673, 
Catherine Leefe (Leeke or Leete). Thomas 
Wetmore had seventeen children. He made 
his will July 20, 1681, and d. Dec. 11, of 
the same year. His widow, Catherine, died 
Oct. 13, 1693. Children of Thomas and 
Sarah, Hall, Wetmore: 

John, b. Sept. 8, 1646, m. Abigail War¬ 
ner. 

Elizabeth, b. 164 8, m. Josiah Atkins. 


Mary, b. 1649, m. John Stow. 

Sarah, b. 1651, d. 1665. 

Thomas, b. 1652, m. Elizabeth Hub¬ 
bard . 

Hannah, b. 1653, m. Nathaniel Stow. 
Samuel b. 1655, m. Mary Bacon. 
Izrahiah, b. 1656-7, m. Rachel Stow 
(See Stow Family). 

Nathaniel, b. 1661, m. Dorcas Allen. 
Joseph, b. 1662, m. Lydia Bacon. 
Sarah, b. 1664, m. John Bacon. 

Society of Colonial Wars, 1899-1902, 
p. 805. 


Izrahiah, eighth child of Thomas and 
Sarah, Hall, Wetmore, was born in Middle- 
town Mar. 9, 1656-7. At the age of 35, on 
May 13, 1692, he married Rachel, daughter 
of the Rev. Samuel Stow. He inherited 
-property from his father, and, together 
with his wife Rachel, from his father-in- 
law. Besides this the Rev. Stow had, dur¬ 
ing his lifetime, given them deeds of land 
in various parts of Middletown. Izrahiah 
Whtmore held a number of public offices, 
beginning Dec., 1695, with his election as 
Townsman, or Selectman, which office he 
filled at various later dates. He was also 
Hayward; Poundkeeper; Surveyor of High¬ 
ways; Constable for that part of town 
lying south of the Feery River; Grand- 
juryman; appointed on important commit¬ 
tees by his fellow townsmen; Representa¬ 
tive from Middletown to the Gen. Court 
at sixteen sessions from Oct., 1717, to May, 
1729, both inclusive; and in May, 1726-28- 
29 was appointed one of the Justices for 
the County of Hartford, which included 
Middletown until 1785. His wife Rachel 

d. Jan. 8, 1722-3. He m. 2nd Hannah-, 

prior to Dec., 172 5, when she was admit¬ 
ted to membership in the First Church of 
Middletown by letter from the church at 
Saybrook. Izrahiah Wetmore made his 
will Mar. 26, 1741, making therein pro¬ 
vision for his wife Hannah, and leaving 
his estate to his sons and grandchildren. 
He added a codicil Aug. 26, 1742, and an 
inventory of his estate was taken June 28, 
17 43, but the precise time of his death be¬ 
tween these dates is unknown. The will 
was presented to the County Court July 5, 
1743. The records show that he and Rach¬ 
el, Stow, Wetmore had eight sons, six of 
whom survived their father. The children 
were: 

Izrahiah, b. June 28, 1693. 

Stow, b. Jan. 31, 1695. 

James, b. Dec. 26, 1695. 

Ichabod, b. Apr. 18, 1698. 

Seth, b. Nov. 18, 1700. 

Jeremiah, b. Nov. 8, 1703, m. Abigail 
Butler. 

Caleb, b. July, 1706. 

Josiah, b. Mar. 1, 1709. 


Jeremiah, sixth child and son of Tzra- 









18 


MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


hiah and Rachel, Stow, Wetmore was b. 
in Middletown Nov. 8, 1703, and baptized 
6 days later. He m. Feb. 25, 1724-5, Abi¬ 
gail Butler of Wethersfield. Jeremiah 
Wetmore resided on the north side of 
Washington street on land formerly owned 
by his father and maternal grandfather. 
He d. Oct. 2, 1753. His wife d. some time 
between the making of her will, Nov. 22, 
1757, and its presentation to the Probate 
Court Jan. 17, 1758. Jeremiah and Abi¬ 
gail, Butler, Wetmore had nine children, 
two of whom d. in infancy. They were: 

Hezekiali. 

Jeremiah, 

Abigail, b. Sept. 18, 1729, m. 1st Jonas 
Burt; m. 2nd Samuel Gear (See Gear 
Family); m. 3rd Abraham Harris. 

Ann. 

lchabod. 

Elizabeth. 

Rachel. 

Rachel. 

Thankful. 


Abigail, third child of Jeremiah and Abi¬ 
gail, Butler, Wetmore, was b. Sept. 18, 
1729, d. Sept. 12, 1789. She m. 1st, July 
2 5, 1752, Jonas Burt of Worcester, and 
they had at least one child, Lucretia. This 
marriage is all the Middletown records 
show regardng Jonas Burt. In the distri¬ 
bution of Jeremiah Wetmore’s estate, one- 
half of his homestead was set to “his 
daughter, Abigail Burt, alias Wetmore,” 
and on Nov. 28, 1758, she sold to her 
brother, Jeremiah, some of this land. On 
the same day he conveyed “to my sister, 
Abigail Burt, 30 rods of land with dwell¬ 
ing house thereon, bounded north by land 
of John Bacon, east on Highway, south and 
west on land of John Elton.” In 1760 or 
1761 she m. 2nd, Samuel Gear. He d. in 
1765, and she m. 3rd, Abraham Harris of 
Wethersfield. The date of their marriage 
is not known, but it was prior to Oct. 4, 
1781, as there is a record on that date of 
Abraham Harris and his wife Abigail of 
Middletown selling to Duncan McIntyre a 
piece of land in the north part of “Town 
Plot” in Middletown, the description of 
which is the same as that deeded to Abi¬ 
gail Burt by her brother, Jeremiah Wet¬ 
more. 

Middletown Town Records. 


THE HERRICK FAMILY 

Henry Herrick b. in England in 1604, d. 
1671, m. Edith, b. 1612, daughter of Hugh 
Laskin, who d. in 1659. Their son Eph- 
riam, baptized Feb. 11, 1638, d. Sept. 18, 
1693, m. July 3, 1661, Mary, b. June 14, 
1640, daughter of Robert and Ann, Jordan, 
Cross. The parents of Ann were Stephen 


and Susanna,-•, Jordan. Ephriam and 

Mary, Cross, Herrick, had a son: 

Ephriam, b. Aug. 13, 1664. 

Ephriam Herrick m., Jan. 2, 1688-89, 
Judith, b. Nov. 22, 1669, daughter of Wil¬ 
liam and Judith, Glover, Woodbury. Wil¬ 
liam Woodbury, d. 1674. His parents were 
William Woodbury, b. 1589, d. 1677, and 
wife, Elizabeth Patch. Ephriam and Jud¬ 
ith, Woodbury, Herrick had a daughter: 

Elizabeth, b. July 14, 1702, Preston, 

Conn., m. Jonathan Geer (See Geer 
Family). 


RECORDS 


Births 

From “Land Records” of Middletown, 
Conn., Vol. 1: 

“William, sone to Daniil Haris & Mary 
his wife was born the 17th July, 1665.”— 
P. 21. 

“William son to William Harris and 
Martha his wife was born ye 2 0th; May 
1697.”—P. 4. 

“Elizabeth Dafter to the above sayd 
Joseph & Elizabeth (Johnson) was born 
December: 12, 1699.”—P. 27. 

From above, Vol. 2: 

“Jonathan son to Ezekiel Gilbert & pat- 
iance his wife was born febuary 2 4 1715- 
16.”—P. 29. 

From above, Vol. 1: 

“Prudence Daughter to Wm. Harris & 
Elizabeth his wife was born Sept. 18 
1721.”—p. 2. 

“Sarah Daughter to Jonathan Gilbert & 

Prudence his wife born Nov; 1st 1763 ”_ 

P. 123. 


Baptism 

Records of First Congregational Church, 
Middletown, Conn.: 

“Ezekiel Gilbert was baptized Mav 21 
1693.” 


Marriages 

From “Land Records,” Middletown, 
Conn., Vol. 1: 

“William parris and Martha Collins 
ware Joyned In Mariage the Eight day of 
January 1689-90.”—P. 4. 

“Joseph Johnson & Elizabeth Blake 









MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


19 


ware Joyned In Mariage: January: 2 5th 
1698.”—P. 27. 

‘‘William Harris & Elizabeth Johnson 
were Joined In Marriage Covenant feb ye 
2nd 1720-21.”—P. 2. 

From the above, Vol. 2: 

“Ezekiel Gilbert & patiance Harriss mar¬ 
ried Decemb r 2nd 1714.”—P. 29. 

' From the above, Vol. 1: 

“Jonathan Gilbert jun r and Prudence 
Harris ware Joyn d in Marage: octobr: 
25th 1739.”—P. 12 3. (He was called 
Jonathan Jr. because he had an uncle Jon¬ 
athan Gilbert.) 

From Middletown Town Records: 

‘ Jonas Burt of Worcester and Abigail 
Wetmore of Middletown were married by 
Squire Peck of Horseneck as per informa¬ 
tion from her July 25th 1752.” 


Deaths 

From “Land Records,” Middletown, 
Conn., Vol. 1: 

“Cap n Daniell Harris Departed this 
life the Last day of novemb r Anno Dom: 
1701.”—P. 21. 

“Mary the Widdow of Cap n Daniel har- 
ris departed this life: Sept m 5th: 1711.”— 
P. 21. 

“William Harris Departed this Life June 
15th 1740.”—P. 2. 

“Elizabeth Doolittle the Widow of the 
above Wm Harris Died March 12, 1777.”— 
P. 2. 1 f *f$ 

From the Middlesex Gazette, a Middle- 
town, Conn., weekly, Sept. 12, 1789: 

“Died in this town, Mrs. Abigail Harris, 
aged 60, wife of Abraham Harris.” 


Tombstones 

Tombstones in the several cemeteries in 
Middletown, Conn., are located and bear 
inscriptions as follows: 

In the Washington Street Cemetery: 

“This In Memory Of Mr. Ekek’l Gilbert 
Who Died Aug'st the 25th A:D 1752 in the 
62nd Year of His Age.” 

“In Memory of Mrs. Patience Wife of 
Mr. EZEKIEL GILBERT who died Aug’st 
15th. A:D, 1777 in the 86th Year of Her 
Age.” 

“In Memory of Mr. Jonathan Gilbert 
Who died Jan. 3rd. 1812 Aged 97.” 

“In Memory of Mrs. Prudence wife of 
Mr. Jonathan Gilbert who died August 


30th. 17 98 Aged 77 years The memory of 
the Just is blessed.” 

In the Riverside Cemetery: 

“Here lies y body of Jonathan Gilbert 
who died March 7 1698 oetat suae 50.” 

“And Allso Dorathy wife of y sd Gil¬ 
bert who died July 14 1698 aetat suae 32.” 

“Here Lyeth the body of Isaac Johnson 
who departed this life Feb. 13, 1719 in the 
77 year of his age.” 

“Here lyeth the body of Elezabeth the 
wife of Joseph Johnson who deceased 
March ye 4 1720 aged 41 years” 

“Here leys the body of Mr. Sam 11 Col¬ 
lins who died the 10 Janvary 1695-6 being 
in the 60 year of his age” 

“Here lies one dead which in her life 
was my loveing pious wife. Abigail Har¬ 
ris died May the 22 1723” 

In the Farm Hill Cemetery: 

“In Memory of Mrs. Martha Wife of 
Captain William Harris died August 14th. 
1750 in her 85th year” 

“In Memory of Capt. William Harris 
Who died Febry the 19th 1751 in the 87th 
Year of his Age.” 


Wills 

Will of Jonathan Gilbert. 1618-1682: 

“In the name of God Amen. I Jona¬ 
than Gilbert of Hartford in the County 
of Hartford and Colony of Conn being in 
perfect health and good memory at this 
-sip Am jo eraij eqj Sumouq jou pun ernij 
solution and sencible of Mortality arid 
very desirous to leave a settled peace in 
my family in respect to those transitory 
things, I do constitute this my last Will 
and Testament. Imprimis, I give and be¬ 
queath my immortal soul into the ever¬ 
lasting Arms of my Blessed Lord and Sav¬ 
iour Jesus Christ who hath redeemed me 
with his precious blood. Also I bequeath 
my body to the earth by comely bureal, 
and also my wish is that all my lawful 
debts be paid and discharged out of my 
moveable estate, which being done, I do 
dispose of that little estate which God out 
of his bounty has betrusted me with as 
followith. Item. To my dear and loving 
wife Mary Gilbert, as followith the use of 
my dwelling house (at Cold Spring) house 
lott Orchard, Gardens, Barns, Barn-yard 
Out-house, Ware-house, that part of my 
Island above that which is commonly 
known by the name of Dutch Island all 
northward as also that little land I 'bought 
of Mr. Callsey as also that land I did ex¬ 
change with Mr. James Richards, as also 




20 


MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


that pasture I bought of Andrew Warner, 
also my wood lotts on the West side of 
Rocky Hill. All and every part of the 
forementioned particulars, during here 
widowhood and till my son Samuel Gilbert 
shall attain to the age of Twenty-One 
years and then my wish is that she shall 
peaceably surrender unto Samuel his quiet 
possession at the foresaid house & land 
save only what is hers excipten viz the 
Celler, great Kitchen and all the chambers 
over it and garret over the said Kitchen, 
and half my ware house that is to say the 
south end, celler and rooms over the cel¬ 
ler and half my home-lot (the east end of 
it) and half my Barn half my Barn yard 
for her use with also full use of water in 
the well and found on the lot, without any 
interruption during her natural life and 
that immediately after her death all the 
fore said houseing and land I give to my 
son Samuel Gilbert and his heirs forever, 
he paying his brother Ebenezer Gilbert 
thirty pounds in Country pay. Item I 
give to my son Jonathan Gilbert one half 
of the land on the bounds of Haddam, that 
I bought of Mr. James Bates and Thomas 
Shaylor or Twenty pounds in other estates 
which he the said Jonathan shall choose 
which is the completing of his portion to 
what I have done for him already. Item. 
I give to my son Thomas Gilbert my house 
and home-lot on the south side of the 
riverlet in Hartford and my meadow land 
that I did exchange and had of Mr. James 
Richards to possess immediately after his 
Mother’s death, but the house and lot to 
possess at the age of one and twenty, also 
I give to my son Thomas that ten acres of 
land I bought of Lieut Robert Webster, 
also I give to my son Thomas the lower 
end of my Island that is to say, from the 
upper end of that which is called Dutch 
Island which I bought of Capt. Thomas 
Lord with a straight line to the great river 
west and to End on the meadow lots. I 
lay all my land downward to him and his 
heirs forever he paying his Mother Twenty 
shillings per year and Twenty pounds of 
good hops per year during her natural life. 
Item. I give to my son Nathaniel Gilbert 
my farm at Meriden with all the house and 
land thereunto belonging and all privileges 
hereunto to him and his heirs forever and 
I also give him thirty pounds more out of 
my estate or in cattle to stock the said 
farm. Item. I give to my Daughters Lid¬ 
ia Richedson twenty shillings Sarah Bel¬ 
cher twenty shillings Mary Holton twenty 
shillings. Item I give to my daughter 
Hester Gilbert One hundred pounds to be 
payed to her within six months after her 
marriage or eighteen years of age, which 
shall first happen in currint county pay or 
part in household goods, to be prized by 
indifferent men. Item. I give to my 


daughter Rachel Gilbert One hundred 
pounds to be paid her within six months 
after her marriage or Eighteen years of 
age, which shall first happen in current 
county pay or part in household goods, to 
be prized by indifferent men. I give to 
my son Ebenezer Gilbert his heirs forever 
all that three hundred acres of land be¬ 
longing and also that purchase of land I 
bought of Capt. Daniel Clark lyeing Farm¬ 
ington bounds, with all the privelidges 
thereunto belonging and also that pur¬ 
chase of land I bought of “Massecap” 
commonly called and known by the name 
of “Pagan Chaumeschang” also I give to 
Ebenezer Gilbert thirty pounds to be paid 
him by his brother Samuel Gilbert and 
twenty pounds more to be paid him out 
of my estate to stock his farm with: which 
Fifty pounds shall be paid him at the age 
of one and twenty years, and my desire is 
that my wife do remember Hannah Kelly 
and give her twenty shillings, and more as 
her direction shall guide her, if she proves 
obedient. Item I give to my grand child 
John Rosseter Ten pounds to be paid him 
at the age of twenty-five in county pay. 
Also I give my grand child Andrew Bel¬ 
cher Five pounds in county pay. I give my 
grand child Jonathan Richedson five 
pounds in county pay. Also my will is if 
any of my children prove disobedient and 
legally convicted so to be that my wife hath 
the power to take from such child forty 
pounds of his or her respective portion and 
distribute among the surviving. Also my 
will is if any of my children are taken 
away by death before they come to receive 
their respective portions then that child’s 
portion to be divided equally amongst the 
surviving. I also make and constitute 
Capt. John Allyn and my brother John Gil¬ 
bert and Sarjiant Caleb Standly to be help¬ 
ful to my dear and loving wife whom I 
make and constitute and appoint sole Ex¬ 
ecutrix and administrater to this my last 
will and Testament and desire that she 
satisfy them for their paynes, Whom I in¬ 
treat to see this my last will attended and 
performed, revoking all former wills As 
witness my . hand this 10th day of Septem¬ 
ber 16 74. Jonathan Gilbert. Signed seal¬ 
ed in the presence of us John Tallcott 
John Gilbert.” 


Extract from Will of Rev. Samuel .Stow 
1624-1704; 

“I have given to my six children each, 
one sixth part. My son Izrahiah Wetmore 
as trustee for the orphans of my daughter 
Dorothy Gilbert. Item. As to my interest 
in the division of the half mile, and as to 
the additional three miles belonging to it, 
in case of a new plantation I give to Eben- 


21 


MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


ezer Gilbert the (posthumous) son of my 
dau Dorothy (deceased) to Samuel Barnes, 
son of my dau Elizabeth, to Ichabod Wet- 
more son of my dau Rachel, and to Beriah 
Wetmore husband of my dau Margaret, and 
that my dau Margaret shall have the high 
bed with the curtains and vallence broid- 
ered, with what necessary bedding and 
bolsters, besides the bed and bedstead, 
That hath been improved about me. Be¬ 
sides I will Margaret the value of half the 
long table and carpet and dau Rachel the 
whole, paying the value of half of the 
whole to Margaret Mr. Pierpont 'being 
judge of it. The great carved chest I will 
to Margaret as also the silver spoons which 
she possetheth marked S. >S. M. and mark¬ 
ed S. S. E. to my dau Elizabeth, the spoon 
marked S. iS. D. let be reserved for little 
Sarah Gilbert when of Age. As what more 
of silver, brass, and iron in the house that 
was mine I will to my dau Rachel bec&use 
tender and careful of me in my old age. 
Samuel Stow L. S.” 


Distribution of Estate Jonathan Gilbert, 
1648-1698. (No will was found. His wife 
survived him but four months). 

“Sept. 3, 1698. Izrahiah Wetmore and 
the dau made oath to the invt. Ad¬ 
ministrator, Izrahiah Wetmore.” “Sep:. ", 
1700: Izrahiah Wetmore, adms. reports 

that the personal estate is not sufficient 
to pay the debts.” “Nov. 11, 1792. Order 
to distribute the estate to John Gilbert, 
to Jonathan Gilbert, to Nathaniel Gilbert, 
to Ezekiel Gilbert, to Ebenezer, to Mary, 
to Sarah, by Nathaniel White, Alexander 
Rollo, and Thomas Stow.” “March 6, 1704. 
Nathanial Gilbert, a minor son of Jonathan 
Gilbert, chose John Bacon to be his guard¬ 
ian, and this Court appoint Thomas Stow 
to be Guardian unto Ebenezer Gilbert, an¬ 
other son of Jonathan Gilbert.” “Sept 6, 
1705. This Court now discharges Thomas 
Stow, Guardian to Ebenezer Gilbert, and 
appoint Izrahiah Wetmore of Middletown 
to be his Guardian.”—Court Records of 
Middletown, Conn. 


Will of Ezekiel Gilbert 1693-1752. (Cop¬ 
ied from Middletown Probate Records, Vol. 
1, p. 45. The record is worn in places and 
the words in parenthesis have been sub¬ 
stituted for those undecipherable): 

“I, Ezekiel Gilbert of Middletown In the 
County of Hartford, being under Indispo¬ 
sition of Body, but of sound Disposing 
Mind and Memory and Considering the 
Uncertainty of my temporal Life Do make 
and Ordain this my Last Will and Testa¬ 
ment and do hereby Dispose of such world¬ 
ly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God 


to bless me in this Life (arfter my just 
Deb'ts and Funeral Charges are paid) I 
give, Demise and Dispose in the following 

Manner and Form-Imprimis I give and 

bequeath unto Patience my well beloved 
Wife the Use and Improvement of such 
part of my Real Estate as she shall see 
cause to improve for and During the time 
that she shall Remain my Widow, and the 
whole of my personal Estate I give to her 
to be at her Dispose. Item, I give to my 
Eldest Son, Jonathan Gilbert, the sum of 
twenty shillings old Tenor. Item, I give 
to the Children of my Son Ezekiel Gilbert, 
Jun r, Deed, Namely Elihu, Abigail, Seth, 
Rhoda & Elizabeth, to each of them the 
sum of Ten pounds, old Ten r to be paid 
to them as they shall severally arrive to 
Lawfull Age and if anyone or more of them 
shall Decease before, my will is that the 
same viz., the Sum of fifty pounds shall 
be shared among the Survivors. Item, I 
give to my Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of 
Eben r Johnson, One common Bible or the 
Value thereof. Item, I give to my Daugh¬ 
ter Lament the wife of Phenias (?) 
Rice (?) the Sum of Ten Shillings old 
Tenor. Item, I give to my Daughter Abi¬ 
gail Gilbert one Common Bible or the 
Value thereof, besides what is already pro¬ 
vided for her-Item, I give to my two 

youngest Sons Joseph Gilbert and David 
all my Real Estate and Credits, (in equail 
parts) except the sum of twelve pounds, 
Old Ten r of my Credits which I do here¬ 
by give to my Wife. Hereby obliging them, 
my said Sons Joseph & David to pay all 
my just Debts and the Legacies above men¬ 
tioned within One Year after my Decease 
(Except the Legacies to the children of my 
Son Ezekiel which ((Legacies)) or ((I de¬ 
sire)) shall be paid Equail to a Dollar at 
Sixty four Shillings pr (?) Dollar, and 
the (reason) why I have given no more to 
my children that are married is because 
they (have had) their full portion of my 
Estate, and I do hereby Constitute, Nom¬ 
inate (and Appoint) my Son Joseph Gil¬ 
bert to be Executor to this my Will and 
Testament. In Witness Whereof I have 
hereunto Set my Hand and Seal the 17th 
Day of August, A. D. 175—. N. B. Jona¬ 
than had Rec d his portion by the Gift of 
his Grandfather (—) Daniel Harris. Eze¬ 
kiel Gilbert. Signed, Sealed, Published 
and Declared by the s d Ezekiel Gilbert to 
be his Last Will and Testament in pres¬ 
ence of James Mattock, John Young, 
Will m Rockwell.” 


Will of Jonathan Gilbert, 1715-16— 
1812: 

“In the Name of God, Amen, I Jonathan 






22 


MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


Gilbert of Middletown in the State of Con¬ 
necticut, calling to mind the uncertainty 
of my Temporal life & being at present in 
a Good State of Health, & of a Sound and 
disposing mind & memory do make & or¬ 
dain this my last Will & Testament. First, 
I recommend my Sould to God who gave 
it, & my Body to the Earth in Christian 
Burial & as touching such worldly Estate 
wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me 
with after my just debts & funeral 

Charges are paid - I give & dispose of 

the remainder as follows, Yis t to my son 
Jon n Gilbert, Jun r & to his Heirs & As¬ 
signs forever I give devise & bequeath all 


my farming utensils & all my lands 
Buildings Item. To my Sons, Ezekiel & 
William & to my Daughters Prudence Eliz h 
Patience & Sarah what I have hereto¬ 
fore given them I hereby declare to be in 
full of their several Portions of my Estate 
—And I do hereby appoint my son Jon n 
Gilbert, Jun r Ex r of this my last Will and 
Testament. In Witness whereof I have 
hereto Set my hand & Seal this eighth day 
of May, A. D. 1802. Jon n Gilbert (Seal). 
Sign d Seal d Publish d & pronounced by 
the s d Jon n Gilbert as his last Will & 
Testament. In Presence of Josiah Starr 
Elizur Barns Jno Fisk.” 


REV. EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 

CHAPLAIN AT FORT SNELLING, 1838-1858. 

An Address on the occasion of the Presentation of his Portrait to the Minnesota Historical Society, at the 
monthly meeting of its Executive Council, February 12th, 1906, by the Rt. Rev. Samuel Cook Edsall, D. D., 


Bishop of Minnesota. 

The pleasant duty of rendering honor to¬ 
night to Father Gear, of blessed memory, 
and of formally presenting to the Histori¬ 
cal Society the excellent portrait in oil 
painted by Miss Grace E. McKinstry, of 
Fairbault, comes to me simply because in 
the Providence of God I am now Bishop of 
the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of 
Minnesota, and can therefore represent 
more fully than anyone else the religious 
body of which Father Gear was the pioneer 
minister, and which now rejoices in the 
opportunity of placing his likeness in your 
custody, where it may be preserved among 
the portraits of the other great men who 
bore their part in laying the foundations of 
this commonwealth. 

This duty could have been more ade¬ 
quately performed either by Rev. William 
C. Pope, of St. Paul, or Rev. George C. Tan¬ 
ner, D. D., of Fairbault, the residence and 
ministry of both of whom go back to a 
point in Minnesota’s history which would 
enable them to speak from personal knowl¬ 
edge, not only of the later years of Father 
Gear’s own life, but of the other men with 
whom he labored, and of events in which 
they themselves have borne an honorable 
part. 

To Mr. Pope we owe the inception of the 
project for procuring this portrait, and 
most of the credit for carrying it through 
to completion; while to Dr. Tanner, as the 
historian of the Episcopal Church in this 
Diocese, we are indebted for the gathering 
of the facts which have made Father Gear’s 
life and labors familiar to those of us who 
belong to a later generation. 


But enlightened by what Mr. Pope and 
Dr. Tanner have contributed to the ea^Iy 
history of the Episcopal Church in Minne¬ 
sota, I have been permitted to realize how 
remarkable was the man in whose honor 
we have met tonight, and how prominent 
was his share in doing the very first work, 
not only of the Episcopal Church, but of 
any English-speaking religious body, among 
the white settlers of Minnesota, and partic¬ 
ularly in that portion of Minnesota center¬ 
ing about Fort Snelling and the junction 
of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, 
embracing the present great cities of St. 
Paul and Minneapolis. 

The salient fact for us to fasten in our 
minds, in estimating the place of this man 
among Minnesota’s pioneers, is that he be¬ 
gan his labors as chaplain at Fort Snelling, 
and as a Christian missionary in the vi¬ 
cinity, in April, 1839, and that thus he be¬ 
came (aside from the Rev. Clement F. 
Jones, post chaplain in 1828, and aside 
from certain faithful missionaries among 
the Indians and half-breeds) the first resi¬ 
dent Christian minister of Minnesota. In 
the days of Mr. Jones’ chaplaincy, and, in 
fact, up to the time of Father Gear’s com¬ 
ing, there was practically no white settle¬ 
ment in which a resident minister could 
labor. We would not detract from the 
heroism of any missionary who gave his 
life to ministering among the Indians, nor 
from the fidelity of any chaplain who’may 
have held service for the garrison in the 
tort; nor do we deny that it is possible that 
some occasional service may have been 
held somewhere in the present boundaries 



MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


23 


of Minnesota for some passing party of 
traders or explorers; but the fact remains 
that Ezekiel G. Gear was the first Chris¬ 
tian minister, permanently residing in Min¬ 
nesota, to conduct services regularly in the 
English language among the white settlers 
of the future state. That this fact should 
be stated and known is but due to a man 
whose missionary zeal was such that he did 
not content himself with his Sunday morn¬ 
ing and evening services in the fort, but 
was keen to avail himself of the earliest 
opportunity of gathering the settlers at 
points like the future Mendota and St. Paul 
for public worship, and of entering into 
relations with them as a Christian pastor. 

To be the first Christian minister to of¬ 
ficiate regularly in the English language 
among the white settlers of Minnesota is 
proud enough title for any man. But when 
we add to this that in personal character, in 
missionary zeal, in intellectual ability, in 
far-seeing plans, as well as in commanding 
physical presence, he was a man of alto¬ 
gether exceptional force and power, and 
one whose influence as a force for right¬ 
eousness counted more than that of any oth¬ 
er one man in those earliest days of Minne¬ 
sota’s history, we can see that it would 
have constituted a neglect almost criminal 
if we had failed to preserve his features, 
with some record of his life, here in this 
hall of Minnesota’s fame, and in this shrine 
where her early records are cherished. 

Ezekiel Gilbert Gear was born in Middle- 
town, Connecticut, September 13th, 1793. 
He was ordained deacon by Bishop Gris¬ 
wold in the same church in which he was 
baptized, and his diaconate was passed in 
that diocese. He was ordained priest by 
Bishop Hobart, and was appointed mis¬ 
sionary in the western part of New York 
state. There he labored at Onondaga Hill, 
Avon, Manlius, Ithic'a, Syracuse, Bingham¬ 
ton and Brownsville. He also worked 
among the Oneida and Onondaga Indians, 
baptizing, marrying, and admitting many 
to the communion of the Church. He was 
present at the confirmation by Bishop Ho¬ 
bart of ninety-seven Indians, presented by 
Eleazar Williams. We can well imagine 
that this previous connection with Indian 
work led him to take an especial interest 
in advocating, as he did, the beginning of 
work among the Sioux and Ojibways of 
Minnesota. , 

In 1836 Mr. Gear was appointed by the 
Board of Missions as missionary at Galena, 
Illinois, where he built a church. He also 
did missionary duty in southern and west¬ 
ern Wisconsin, and in northwestern Illi¬ 
nois, visiting Dubuque, Mineral Point and 
Prairie du Chien. He accompanied Bishop 
Kemper on one of his visitations to Green 
Bay, probably in 1838, when the corner¬ 


stone of Hobart Church on the Oneida 
Reservation was laid. 

On Oct. 2d, 1838, he was appointed post 
chaplain at Fort Snelling. In writing to 
the Board of Missions with regard to the 
chaplaincy, he said: “A considerable set¬ 
tlement has already commenced in the vi¬ 
cinity of the fort, and it is the understand¬ 
ing that I am to be at liberty to extend my 
labors among them. Without drawing any 
support from the Committee, I beg that 
they will consider me as under their di¬ 
rection, and allow me to still make reports 
to them as heretofore.” The considerable 
settlement to which he refers was Mendota, 
or, as it was then called, St. Peter, which 
was also the name of the river. A few 
months earlier, on June 12th, 1838, the 
northern part of the Louisiana Purchase, 
including what later became southern and 
western Minnesota, had been nominally 
organized as Iowa Territory. Accordingly 
we find that the Board of Missions passed 
a resolution, “That the Rev. E. G. Gear be 
appointed missionary in the Precinct of 
St. Peter, Iowa, and that the Committee 
accede to his kind proposal to act without 
salary.” 

It was already late in the season when 
Mr. Gear set out from Galena for his re¬ 
mote home, traveling first to Fort Craw¬ 
ford at Prairie du Chien. From this point 
the journey was to be made by sledges on 
the ice of the Mississippi river. He had 
engaged a Canadian to transport him and 
his goods on a one-horse sledge, of the 
kind then in use, but when seated on the 
top of his baggage the sledge gave a lurch 
which threw him on the ice. When Mr. 
Sibley and Mr. Dousman picked him up, it 
was found that his hip bone was broken. 
He was obliged to remain in the hospital at 
Fort Crawford all winter, and was lamed 
for life. Thereafter he was compelled to 
preach in a sitting posture. But we 
are told that such was his presence and 
voice that this did not detract from the 
force of his sermons. 

Not only were Mr. Gear’s ministrations 
at Fort Snelling faithful and efficient, but 
we find him conducting a school at the 
fort, and winning by his ministration the 
interest of such men as General Sibley. 
Moreover, we find him pleading the neces¬ 
sity of work among the Indians and bring¬ 
ing the attention of the Board to Enmegah- 
bowh. In 1843 Bishop Kemper paid his 
first visit to Minnesota as the guest of 
Father Gear at Fort Snelling. 

The daughters of Father Gear state that 
he told them that he held his first service 
in the settlement at St. Paul in 1840. Mr. 
A. L. Larpenteur states that he well re¬ 
members when Mr. Gear and Father Rav- 
pux, the revered Roman Catholic pastor 


24 


MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF EZEKIEL GILBERT GEAR, D. D. 


who labored here more than half a century, 
were accustomed to alternate in holding 
Sunday services In St. Paul. There would 
seem to be no question but that Father 
Gear held the first service in the English 
language within the present limits of St. 
Paul, and it is probable that he held the 
first Christian service of any kind here. 
On December 24th, 1 845, he held a Christ¬ 
mas service In St. Paul. 

It is also probable that the service which 
he held at the Falls of St. Anthony on Feb¬ 
ruary 5th, 1 848, was the first religious ser¬ 
vice in that place, or in the present city of 
Minneapolis, excepting the mission work 
of the brothers Samuel W. and Gideon H. 
Pond for the Sioux at their cabin built in 
1824 near the east shore of Lake Calhoun. 

Father Gear was still pleading in com¬ 
munications to the Board of Missions, and 
in articles to the Church newspapers, for 
the great need of missionary work to be 
done in Minnesota. We can imagine that 
his lameness made him anxious for rein¬ 
forcements. At last, in 1850, Breck and 
his associates came. Father Gear’s char¬ 
acter is shown in the cordiality with which 
he met them, and in his eager co-operation, 
transferring his work in St. Paul, and 
giving an acre of ground to be added to 
their tract for the mission here. He 
was a frequent visitor at the Mission House, 
and he laid the corner stone of the original 
Christ Church. He was president of the 


first Standing Committee appointed by 
Bishop Kemper at the first Convocation, 
held November 4th, 1854, and was chair¬ 
man of the committee appointed to draft a 
constitution and canons in 1856. He was 
a delegate to the General Convention in 
1859, and was an active member of the 
Council which elected Bishop Whipple. 

After the abandonment of Fort Snelling, 
in 1858, he continued to officiate for the 
families remaining there and at Mendota, 
until his appointment as chaplain at Fort 
Ripley, in the spring of 1 860. In 1 867 he 
was retired from the service, and soon af¬ 
terward removed to Minneapolis, where he 
continued to reside until his death, which 
took place October 13th, 1873. At the 
time of his death he had passed the age of 
fourscore, was the senior presbyter of the 
Church in the United States, and had re¬ 
sided in Minnesota thirty-four years. 

Bishop Whipple said at his funeral: 
“This is no common grave. A great man 
in our Israel is fallen; a brave-hearted 
soldier, after the battle of fourscore years, 
has entered into his rest.” 

In loving memory of such a man, of one 
who had so much to do with the early re¬ 
ligious history of Minnesota, I take pleas¬ 
ure, in behalf of the Episcopal Church in 
Minnesota, in presenting to the Historical 
Society this portrait of the Rev. Dr. Ezek¬ 
iel Gilbert Gear. 








